Girlguiding UK: Transgender Males Can Now Shower & Share Tents With Young Girls

One prominent girls’ organization is sparking controversy with its evolving policies regarding transgender members and staff.

As the U.K. Daily Mail reported this week, Girlguiding, the United Kingdom’s equivalent to the Girl Scouts of America, has clarified that transgender female guides will be allowed to share the most intimate spaces with fellow guides who were born female.

Girlguiding provides information on its transgender policies online, including the organization’s stance on informing parents about the presence of transgender guides taking part in camping trips and other events.

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“Young trans members should be able to share accommodation with other young members if they wish,” the Girlguiding website states.

The policy goes on to state: “It is not a requirement — or best practice — to tell parents that a trans person will be attending a residential event.”

Reporters contacted the organization to confirm that the policies listed on its website mean transgender individuals will be permitted to join girls in showers, toilets and changing rooms.

“That is correct,” a Girlguiding spokeswoman replied.

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The move toward inclusion has received some support, but reports indicate activists across the political spectrum have taken issue with the policy, which dates back to January.

Conservative Member of Parliament David Davies argued the presence of biological males in facilities including showers and restrooms could cause anxiety for female girls.

“If transgender girls who are physically male are going to be sharing facilities, it’s going to make some girls threatened and uncomfortable and the Guides shouldn’t be doing that,” he said.

His sentiment was echoed from the left by feminist advocate Julie Bendel.

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She said her opposition was not rooted in a “moral panic,” rather the physical safety of female guides.

“The concern that I and many feminists have about boys invading bedrooms, tents and showers, is that disproportionately the victims of sexual violence are girls and women, and overwhelmingly, the perpetrators are boys and men,” she said.